December 11, 2012

Thanks for everything!

I should have mentioned it wouldn't hurt to have you send some cool stuff, and some to Elder Steiner too. He get's lots of love from home, but some more wouldn't hurt at all from you guys.  It always means a lot to get some love and attention from another persons family and friends as well as your own.  I guess in honesty, you are his friends just as you are mine.  ;)  

I don't know when or where I'll be calling for Christmas. If I'm still in Casper at that time, then I will be at a families house that invited us over there for dinner and to hang out some.  Transfers come this Saturday so I'll know then whether I stay or go.

I like the idea of going out and buying some small gifts for the Elders in my district.  That's cool.  I'll do that.

We are having success. Nobodies been baptized yet, but we have 4 on date for January.  We're seeing a bunch of super sweet awesome people.  Two of the four on date are a couple kids Cayden(10) and Caylee( turning 9 this month). We've been working with this family for some time. They are amazing.  The parents are both members and have been inactive for years.  They are really working to help their kids and get them to baptism and they are doing good too.  We are helping the kids get baptized and loving church and it's helping the parents also.  We love them. 

Another one that is on date is Delaney, she's a 20 or 21 year old single mother that lives with her step mom Nicky.  Nicky is on date too!  Delaney has been on the other side of the line for much of her life, and almost all of her adult life.  Getting these two baptized will take a lot of work.  Delaney is closer than Nicky to becoming converted.  These two have some rough challenges but through love, guidance, support and teaching they will and are doing better.

We also have a man named Chris, a single gentleman that's almost 47. He loves hunting and fishing and he has a heart of gold.  He is a loving and respectful person.  He has some challenges, some word of wisdom issues being a big one.  But I know people who have crossed that hurdle and lived  ;)  In fact, a couple good people we've helped a lot in the past few months here in Casper have quit smoking and are doing fantastic!!! 

These people are some highlights we have, but amidst many others.  I love this area, I love the strength of the members too.  I met Des Bennion.  Actually I met him a while ago and I  thought I knew of him when you mentioned his name.  His daughter is in our ward and she is really a nice lady.  She and her husband have 4 kids ages 8 and under I think.  But they are really missionary orientated and helpful. They have strong testimonies.  Des and his family all got up and sang the other night at the Stake Christmas program. They did good.  Then I talked to him after, but he didn't quite remember you.  I'm sure after he thought about it awhile he did.  

But it sounds like you guys are doing good.  Keep up the good example.  I'm going to Rapid City tonight, tuesday for a training meeting.  I've heard that it's going to be 2 Church authorities from the Missionary Dept. of the Church coming to train 50 of us missionaries in the mission.  Did I ever tell you that our mission is increasing by 100 missionaries in the next 7 months?

That's cool that Greg fed some Elders and they knew me, hopefully they had some good things to say back and forth.  I really do hope that I can see those guys one of these days.

Congrats to Matt!

I think the Price's you talked about are some people I know.  Not the Brother Price, but I do know an Annie that I assume is the one you speak of. Her name was Annie Merkley and she is a really nice gal.   She's Sarah's age I think.  Is that the one? Anyway.

I don't think I have a picture of me and the Pres. I'll get one this week from Elder Collins whose in my District and who has a camera, he's going to Rapid too.  He is a great President though.  I think he's great.  

Elder Steiner and I have found Spanish people to teach and we've taught some lessons.  I only speak itsy bitsy Espanol, but I constantly put myself and the Spanish Elders in positions where they can speak the language to Spanish folks.  It's kinda fun. 

One thing that goes on 3 times a week is an English class.  The Spanish Elders rotate every other M W F who will teach it and then one of them comes with me and we go out proselyting.  We're working on getting an article published in the local newspaper telling about the "Free English Class".  It's a good thing that they do.

Elder Steiner is a good missionary. I really enjoy being his companion and serving as his trainer.  He's someone that I really don't have to ever worry about when it comes to obedience. When I have something that I need to counsel him on, he is receptive, and humble about it.  I can trust that he will be doing the right thing or striving for it always.  

Well God Bless, the gospel is true, it's very real. My latest scripture that I've memorized is Alma 7:11-14, but I'll just quote you 14 for now:  "Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again.  For the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of Heaven.  Therefore, come and be baptized unto repentence, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who will take away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness".  Check it 

These things are true. I Love you guys

Elder Ensign

December 3, 2012

Hello Dear mother and family,

This monday is a good one.  The winds were blowing very strongly last night. I thank you for the updates from the ward and your personal lives.  I thank you, for all that you think of me and what you've always done for me. Thanks for the love.

Indeed, our performance at Zone Conference was good.  I enjoyed doing it.  I think it sounded good to the people who got the show.

Elder Steiner is from St. George, and he's 19.  His family is very very supportive of him.   They send him stuff pretty regularly....Kinda like the first 8 months of my mission.

But he is a really nice kid... for the most part. And he is obedient and has a great desire to be out here and do the right.  I do like working with him.    He's shorter than I am, and he's an analytical type person.  He is pretty meek and humble, and is a good companion, meaning he doesn't act super bossy or anything like that which is super nice.

Some crazy things have happened here in Casper lately.  You may have heard about the ordeal at the college via the news, that was super strange and icky.  But another thing that is more suitable to talk about has been the Wind!!! Wow. Last night it was blowing soo hard.  I heard gusts of 70, and 60mph from a couple different people. But it was strong. The trees and night sounded like freight trains or something.

We have been experiencing some tough spots with Robin, the one who's been on date and was coming regularly to church.  She was really progressing there for awhile, but we haven't seen her for a few weeks.  We're going to try a visit tonight.  She has good support from the church and friends, so we hope that this tiff won't halt her progression much more.

It's hard to help people feel and see how obedience to God's commandments give us much more freedom than disobeying them.  I can understand though, because it's not easy to change something you've been doing for years and years just like that. But I know it's possible ;)   I know that the spirit changes hearts, it changes attitudes, and it brings abundant life to it's recipients.

We watched the Christmas Devotional with Chris J., another of our investigators. In fact he's the one who we gave the tie to last week.  We watched it at his house.  He is a really good guy, with a heart that appears to be like gold.

Our ward has been doing good.  We along with them are working hard to reach out to the inactive members and give them love and friendship and light of the Gospel.  I feel blessed to know so many of them.

No baptisms yet mom, but we labor diligently. And I'm doing my best.  I'm learning, and loving, and living as to be my best self.  I love you all.  I know that you're doing the same. And I know that People love you, and are so grateful that you are in and apart of their lives. 

May we do as President Monson conselled us in the Devotional, to reach out to those in love all around us, and especially our loving aged ones who I love very much.  :)

I love my companion. I love working with him. I love the Christ, and I love God's children. I love Casper Wyoming.  Jesus lives. 

hugs and kisses. I'll look for more of the Buskers, and Bennion.  That will be interesting to find them.

November 19, 2012

Thanks so much! Great to hear from you.

I already feel I get enough challenges, but thank you...  :)

Once again, it's PDAY and the weather is really good.  :)

We had a busy week, our most productive and definately our best teaching week of this and the last transfers together.  I'm really glad to be knowing a bunch of the people out here. I've met a ton of good folks. People who are cool, and friendly!

We were inspired to go tracting on a certain street and place, and we ended up finding a whole family of members that moved from Rapid City a couple months ago. They were needed to be found, so we were led right to them. We hope that they'll be inspired and fed spiritually so that we can start to see them come to church with us soon.

A similiar thing happened but the girl kinda found us. We were knocking on a door in a big apartment bldg. and the guy was like, "It's the men from your church!" to his wife, pretty loudly, she didn't want to visit. But way down the hall this girl with blue hair and a lip ring heard the whole conversation which was pretty darn amazing all in itself.  But she is 14, she stuck her head out the door as we were walking by and we started talking, she is a very smart 14 year old, and pretty spunky and such. Her and her mom just moved in about 1 month ago from another ward. The mom is going through a divorce.  It's a bit crazy situation, but we found them by following the Lord and doing his work and we were led to her and her mom.  We'll be going an visiting both of these families with some other members of our ward coming up on Tuesday.  Awesome.

We're both doing pretty fine, and the Wyoming weather has been fantastic.  :)   Happy Thanksgiving!  I love you all, hugs and kisses and God bless you!

Good job on the Stake Conference Music mom and dad!

How long is Roger staying and everyone else?  The boys are growing up quick.

Love you guys all.  Bye

November 12, 2012

Hello!! Howdy do?!

It's great to hear from you! I'm glad to hear you guys will get to participate in Conference you both are so amazing and I'm proud and happy for you. I love you both.

Yeah so feel free to send some pictures this way from you guys.  How many kittens are you down to yet?

We got snow here also. We're walking now instead of biking.  We're getting rides and help from members fairly often too which sure helps and makes it funner and easier.

We've been blessed to continue to be working with good people, like Robin, who's making progress toward getting baptized in December. 

We had a great Sacrament meeting yesterday. It was very heartwarming and powerful with the spirit.  I left feeling very uplifted and grateful to be apart of the gospel and the church in this vast world.  What a great benefit of friends and strength --  and good people.  Of course the Gospel of Jesus Christ lifts us all in it's own.

Lately my reading of the Book of Mormon has helped me to feel more peace and joy in my life and in this service.  It's so true that a real study and feasting upon the words of the Book of Mormon draws us closer to our Father in Heaven so that we can be stronger and more powerful in life and against the things that can make life seem very hard.

I'm glad you had your primary program, ours was weeks ago.  They are great.

I'm also glad that Dennis has been visiting a lot lately. I hope to hear from him.  Tell him and Lavell hi for me if you see them soon.

I want to say that my District is awesome.  I will say that they are some of the if not the best and coolest Elders I've met in the mission.  There are some others in the mission that are pretty cool dudes but these guys are great.  Today I met one who says he's a pro skateboarder from New Mexico. I'm impressed. 

Casper is marvelously entertaining and a fun place to be. It's all those things and we don't even hit the town on Friday nights.  haha. We keep to the rule book pretty close   ;) 

ThanksGiving will be great, I don't know exactly what will be going on other than we do have a dinner planned with a very sweet and special family that is really good to us Elders. The Cordova's.  Remember last year, I ate with the Rich family?  That was the family that had the 73 year old dad, and the 13 year old son: the same age gap that pappy and I have. 

When I get home and have kids you guys need to stick around for another 10 or 20 years. plees don't you forget it.

Thanks fam for all your prayers and love and support.  It really won't be that long before we'll be talkin on the phone fro Christmas.

I'll write you again soon. Love you,

Elder Ensign

November 5, 2012

Tell Uncle Tom Happy BDay for me.  How's all the family?!  I finally got some letters wrote. I'll have more coming. I'm sending you a postcard in the mail. On the postcard I requested you to send me a bike headlight, but I really changed my mind and decided that I will just buy a new one.

We've been working hard and seeing blessings.  The ward is really being supportive and helping us fellowship and teach. That has been so great. And I just love so many of our ward members.  One of the fun things about being District Leader is I get to exchange with each Elder in my District once per transfer.  So we get to switch and have a change of scenery or pace you might say for a day or so a week.  That is nice. 

Last night we met a guy named Josh who owns a gold Toyota Corolla just like mine. We've been trying to get in and visit him for some time now. We had a really good talk and lesson with him last night. It seems like he was very open to the message and he was accepting of the message. He has faith in God and Jesus, and looks to embrace the truth of the restored Gospel.  I like the gospel a lot and the insight and knowledge that it gives us. And the Hope!!!  Meeting with him was really good. He's 31 years old and single, he has two little kids that live with their mom.

Their is another guy named Josh we've recently met, this Josh is a member who used to skateboard, really got into some bad crap throughout high school and middle school, and has been off the path since. He's 21.  I got all happy when he was telling me that he skateboarded and stuff. Man it felt good to reminisce a bit. Then last night I dreamed about skateboarding.   This guys family are very nice folks and they are active in our ward. We had a visit with them and shared a quick message last night. I'm so excited to be working with the people we're working with. I love'em and am stoked to see them get the Spirit and light of the gospel and Jesus Christ in their lives.

 I'm praying better and more than I have yet.  Thanks for your prayers.

Wow, this Presidential Election is a big one. People are pretty nervous about Obama getting in again here. They say he'll stop all this oil drilling and then that would really stir things up for some people. This area is some of the best -- job wise in the country.  This and No. Dak.

Love you.

Talk to you again soon!!! 

October 29, 2012

Hello!

Sounds good that the missionaries spoke in your ward. I bet they're good Elders.

Yeah, this morning at 6:30am when I rolled out of bed, my body was exhausted.  But the Lord does sustain, and through diligence and dedication we perservere and have made it.  P day is going good today. 

This past week we taught the most lessons of any week so far together. I was our best week in number of lessons. We met with and taught a bunch of great people and felt the spirit, during our lessons and otherwise also.  We were guided to find certain families and individuals as we went about our work.  Tonight we are going to Bro. Park's house, and we're going to teach him the Stop Smoking Program. The same one we taught to another lady, Sis. Davis,  who is smoke free and working towards getting her Temple Recommend!!  It's awesome.  Robin, an investigator we're teaching has been on Date for Dec. 1. And she is doing pretty well. Her friend Vicki, a less Active member, or has been less active, is coming back to church and also she has committed to living the Word of Wisdom and quit smoking and coffee!   We're going to teach her the program too, that will really help her make the switch. 

One cool experience we had last week was we were going to an appt. when we were going to the apartment, and we saw two ladies moving stuff from a Moving Truck and into the bldg.  We told them(3 of us, one young man that was teaching with us) we could carry the heaviest item they had up the stairs but we had an appt.  So we carried up the big wood table they had, and went to our appointment.   The people we were going to see lived next door to the ones moving in, and they actually weren't able to meet with us, So we hurried and started helping the ladies again. We came to find out that it was a young couple from Oregon who were moving in, and the girls mom lives here in Casper and was helping.  The husband was just getting off work at Wal Mart and he showed up as we were helping, but they are both members!  So it was perfect, like Heavenly Father wanted us to be there at that time to help some of his children get settled into their new home and have a welcoming hand from us Elders.  We were able to give them the Church meeting times and location and everything and we expect that we'll be seeing them more soon -- A great family.

We have been blessed to meet with a man named Chris.  We actually met Chris as we were searching for a less active member who lives in some other Apartments in our ward.  And He had a huge moving vehicle full of his stuff---tons of hunting stuff.  We were able to help him move in and got another couple of Elders to help too.  After a few weeks we went back and visited him, we shared the first lesson with him and gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon.  He accepted to read and learn more about it. The spirit was strong there, it was a good lesson and he was pretty receptive and open. He is a great guy we hope to see him soon.  We know for sure the Gospel will bless his life.

Much other good has been going on.  We are going to be working with our Ward Council even more to help them get involved and the ward find those who are ready and that the Lord's prepared to accept the Gospel.

Congrats to Robyn and Dallin!!! That is great!

We might go to a member's Halloween Party, but it depends on exactly what the party will be like.  If it will help us be missionaries and fellowship and meet non-members and help the work then we'll go there. But if not, then we'll just be home taking it easy/having some fun.  So it'll be good either way. 

Preparation is so important. I know that's true. I know that Heavenly Father has many blessings ready for us, he is just waiting for us to think about, and ask and they shall be obtained. 

Love You all.

God Bless, thanks for the letters and love!!!

Happy Halloween

Elder Ensign

October 22, 2012

Hellooo!! Howdy Momma.  I sent you a card but was bummed out that it got sent so late!!! It should be there by now.

I had a really cool experience yesterday. We had Stake Conference, and as we were walking to the Stake Center, an older Gentleman named Alfred (Ned) Price stopped and picked us up.  He said, "He(talking about Heavenly Father) said  Stop and pick up those young men!"  So he did. He was headed to the same place. He is apart of 5th ward here.  He taught us some really good lessons and we talked for about 25 minutes before Conference.  One of the coolest things about meeting with him is that he was from Huntsville, and a farmer, and he owns land there still.  But he know Grandpa Tom and company, and he knew that Uncle Tom was the last dairy farmer in the valley.  Cool huh!!?   One question he asked Elder Steiner and I was, "Who do you want to meet in the next life?"  It was right after we talked about Grandpa Tom, and of course I thought my Grandpa Shupe.      Ned said he wanted to meet Paul.  I liked his idea too.  Then I got to thinking more and many others have come to mind.   But I do love to think of my grandparents and to feel and imagine what they were like.  Thanks for reminding me that it is Grandpa Shupe's Bday on the 20th also. That is so cool.  Lanae emailed me today or yesterday and told me that they talked to Ned Price's wife, and she asked Lanae if she knew me. She said yes. Now I find out that this Ned Price is related to Lanae and her husbands family.  Sweet huh.

One thing he told us was: Mormon's are like belly buttons.  Some are in and some are out."  What he was saying that sometimes we aren't the best people toward each other and don't treat other members and people the way we should.  I believe that if we truly are friends and use our hearts to love other people, especially when it comes to people inside of our faith and wards, then there will be more activity and more members of the church - - especially of those that have fallen away into inactivity.

Oh and that is so cool that it's Uncle Bill's bday too.  I love that man.  He's so awesome.  Sometimes I feel like they are so close to us.  Even as I think about Grandpa Tom and Uncle Bill.  I can feel their love.

Happy Birthday!!!  I love you.  You are so sweet and have been so sweet to me. Thank You.  I have been getting your letters and packages and you help me out a ton.  I love you mom.  Thanks for being so supportive and awesome.  I still haven't gotten a camera.  I don't really miss having one to be real with ya.  It would be nice, and I should get one.  That will be good. But I don't know what I'll do yet. k. 

So it sounds like the Ukelele guy was good! That's cool.  There is a guy called 'Uke Man' I believe and he plays LDS music and sings. You should really check him out. He is good and he has a really good testimony. Check him  :)   Maybe Youtube or something.

I need to write Katie, she wrote me not too long ago, and Tammy.  Then like I said Lanae emailed me today. That was so cool.  I love those gals.

Thanks mom, I wished you a Happy Birthday and Elder Steiner did too out loud on Oct. 20! I hope you heard it

Oh yeah, Stake Conference was so good. It was regional, a broadcast covering Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana. Elder Nelson spoke and some others. It was so powerful and uplifting.  Some of the things we learned about were keeping the quality of our prayers really good.  The amount of energy we put into our prayers will be about the same amount we get back. Kinda like if you hit a raquetball with a racket into the wall softly, it will return with less speed and less momentum, on the contrary if we hit the ball fast, with energy, and momentum, it will return in a like manner.

Elder Steiner and I are having a pretty good time.  He is a good young man!  We work hard. We bike a lot and walk sometimes. We work with the members as often as we can. We are truly blessed here.  Some really cool things have been happening lately -- Every so often we are amazed at the goodness of the Lord and his blessings.   :)

You're awesome mommee.  Happy Halloween coming up.  Can't you send some better pics of Pops than that!!!?   Cute kitties. I like that cream one...It has some pretty crazy eyes.  And the one you were holding is really cute too.  How's stumpy?  Love ya